Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 03:08:25 pm

Title: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 03:08:25 pm
I have just finished a BBI except for the sealer and was wondering what you guys are using besides tung oil for a finish? Living in California is something like linseed oil enough or do you think other choices would be better? :-\
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 18, 2009, 04:14:05 pm
Tung Oil wood be good, Tru oil even better. Even in Calif. you need to keep moisture out. I know "It never rains in California" it's actually So. Nevada where it never rains.  ::)
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 05:13:09 pm
I'm assuming that I put it on in light coats, say 3 or 4 letting it dry in between? This is the bow I posted a while ago that had the bamboo separate from the Ipe in the handle area. I had to use a knife to separate the bamboo from the Ipe and scrape the boo and Ipe flat again and start all over again with a new handle design but it seems to work pretty good now. I'll post pictures after it is sealed to see what you guys think.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 18, 2009, 05:51:19 pm
I like the spray poly. It works great and it is easy.

I think the biggest problem you will have with sealers in California is finding one that isn't banned because it "is known it the state of California to cause cancer."  ;)
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: rossfactor on October 18, 2009, 06:03:52 pm
I don't know about never rains in CA, get about 90 inches a year in Cazadero.
 
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 07:07:44 pm
We don't get a whole lot of rain here in Ventura but it does come down in the mountains where I hunt. Does the poly work without cracking after the bow is drawn over time?
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: mullet on October 18, 2009, 08:00:55 pm
 Tim,  Yep, no problem.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 18, 2009, 08:16:30 pm
Ventura!! I used to work the oil fields in Ventura, man I love that town. We had some wells on the Rincon too. You know I forgot I have been useing a finish lately called Defthane, comes in a satin spray that works real well too.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 10:47:40 pm
Wow small world eh? I hunt in the mountains behind Ojai that you probably visited a time or two while you were here maybe. Is Defthane the manufacture name of the finish?
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 18, 2009, 11:14:25 pm
Yep a small world it is. Deft is the manufacturer, Defthane is the name of the product.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 18, 2009, 11:41:14 pm
Thanks Dano, I do appreciate the info. Now to look it up on the web and see where to get it. Another thing I can't seem to get right is this dying the bamboo with RIT dye. I scraped off the rind and tried to die a sample piece of boo but the stain seems to stay on top instead of soaking into the wood. It streaks instead of rubbing in. What am I doing wrong here?
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Gordon on October 19, 2009, 12:11:15 am
I use an alcohol based leather dye for staining bamboo - it works great.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 19, 2009, 12:22:40 am
Thanks Gordon, do you get it at a shoe or craft store? Any brand seem to work better for you than others? Your bows always look so nice and uniform in color and that is what I am trying to achieve here as well.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 19, 2009, 01:49:55 am
Craft stores usually have it, as does almost any other store that sells leather supplies.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: ZanderPommo on October 19, 2009, 11:41:52 am
i like tru-oil
6-10 coats with 00 steel wool or 1500 micrimesh between coats
only thing is if you got cocobolo in your riser the tru-oil never dries, i even had trouble getting it to dry after a rub down w/acetone, really oily wood
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 20, 2009, 12:09:36 am
Well it appears I truly live in the Gestapo state. I can't find any alcohol based dye in a state that lets you marry the same sex, save the gay whales or be a movie star Governor. Go figure! The dye company will not ship to California because of enormous fines so do you guys have any other ideas?
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Easternarcher on October 20, 2009, 10:08:37 am
i like tru-oil
6-10 coats with 00 steel wool or 1500 micrimesh between coats
only thing is if you got cocobolo in your riser the tru-oil never dries, i even had trouble getting it to dry after a rub down w/acetone, really oily wood

You can rub down with acetone - then use superglue to seal the cocobolo.  I've used a coat or too of shellac before the final coats of poly...they say shellac sticks to about anything....
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 20, 2009, 10:14:45 am
Tim, you can mix rit dye with alcohol and get better results.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 20, 2009, 04:04:54 pm
Thanks guys, I'll give it a try if one of the website I found on-line that carry it will not ship it to me. Also found the Defthane spray on at Home Depot so I'll give it a try after the color goes on as well.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Kent D. on October 20, 2009, 04:21:52 pm
i like tru-oil
6-10 coats with 00 steel wool or 1500 micrimesh between coats
only thing is if you got cocobolo in your riser the tru-oil never dries, i even had trouble getting it to dry after a rub down w/acetone, really oily wood

You can rub down with acetone - then use superglue to seal the cocobolo.  I've used a coat or too of shellac before the final coats of poly...they say shellac sticks to about anything....
I have found that is about the only way to seal cocobolo or blood wood.    Deft would work too, but you cant get it anymore.  Still super glue and shellac are great for oily woods.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 20, 2009, 08:46:44 pm
The Defthane I found was the water based version and is not recommended for outdoors so that is out of the question as well. I guess I'll look for the Tru-Oil and see if that is available here.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 20, 2009, 09:21:55 pm
You should be able to find Tru Oil at a sporting good store, or Wally world in the Sporting goods section. Dang Calif. is getting tough.
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Tim B on October 20, 2009, 11:13:01 pm
Ridiculous is more like it. You can buy cigarettes but not good dye or clear coat? >:(
Title: Re: Sealer for BBI bows?
Post by: Dano on October 20, 2009, 11:23:44 pm
Yeah, I hear ya Tim. I was in San Luis Obispo probably 20 years ago when I smoked, you couldn't smoke on the street downtown.  ::) needless to say I dread going to Calif. now days.